A Moscow court has again postponed the posthumous trial of Sergei Magnitksy, a whistle-blowing Russian lawyer who died in detention in 2009.
Magnitsky faces charges of tax evasion and fraud, even though the 37-year-old died from abuse and neglect during nearly a year of pre-trial detention.
RFE/RL’s Russian Service reports that Magnitsky’s mother issued a statement saying court-appointed defense lawyers would not be acting in the interests of her son.
Those lawyers have asked for more time to study the case.
The trial was rescheduled for March 4.
Magnitsky was arrested after accusing Russian officials of stealing $230 million from the state in 2007 through fraudulent tax refunds.
The United States passed legislation last year to punish officials linked to his case as well as other Russians deemed to be rights violators.